An extensive selection of 19th century antique spectacles and antique eyeglasses.
Most date between 1820 and 1900. We always have sliding temple and turn pin temple spectacles in gold, silver, brass, and iron.
We carry 19th century eyeglasses with green, blue, and yellow lenses. We carry "shooters."

19th Century Straight Temples: Straight temples spectacles were made from about 1820 to slightly after 1900. Generally, there are two types of temple ends. One type is simply a flattened end commonly called a Beaver Tail. The next most common type has a cut-out tear-drop shape end. A ribbon was passed through the cut-outs and used to tie the spectacles in place. Generally, spectacles made before 1880 would not stay in place while riding a horse, running, or doing any type of manual work.

19th Century Sliding Temple Spectacles: Sliding temple spectacles featured a temple arm that was movable. The temple arm could be retracted for storage. When in use, the temple arm was extended. Sliding temple spectacles were made from the early 1800's until 1880. This type of spectacle stayed in place better than straight temples. However, they could not be used while riding a horse or running. They would stay in place while doing common household chores and light work.

19th Century Turn-Pin Spectacles: Turn-pin spectacles featured an extension on the end of the temple. The extension was held in place by a rivet. The extension would rotate 360 degrees. The proper position for the turn-pin extension was upward around the 1 o'clock position. The extension was often formed to fit the crown of the owner's head. This type of spectacle tended to stay in place better than straight temples and sliding temples. The turn-pin spectacles was made from the early 1800's to around 1880.

19th Century Riding Temple Spectacles: In 1880 spectacle makers took advantage of newly invented spring steel. They made temples that curved around the ear and held eyeglasses in place while riding a horse or running. The riding temple spectacles was very popular from 1880 to the early 1920's. When the automobile replaced the horse as the primary means of transportation, the riding temple spectacle faded from use.

Civil War Spectacles and their Cases: Most of the spectacles dug at Civil War battle sites tend to date between 1825 and 1860. A large number of these were made by a spectacle stamping machine that was first put into use in 1833. By 1840 this type of machine was turning out tens of thousands of spectacles each year. This reduced the cost of spectacles. Prior to the introduction of the spectacle making machine, spectacles cost around $17.00. The reason for the high price was that each pair had to be hand-made. By 1860 cheap spectacles ($2.00) were available from any general store. Keep in mind that $2.00 was still a lot of money at that time. It is difficult to tell the difference between a machine made spectacles that dates before 1860 and the same type of spectacle made as late as 1880. Generally, the difference is in the type of steel used and the method used to grind the original lens.

I sell Civil War spectacles that I am sure were made before 1860. I also sell similar spectacles made between 1870 and 1900. If you collect antique spectacles and if you are a re enactor who wants authentic pre Civil War spectacles please contact me by email and I will guide you to the 19th Century spectacles that were most likely made before 1860.

LENS SIZE AND FRAME WIDTH: Medical theory in the 19th Century called for spectacles with a lens shape the size of a human eye. This is the reason that most 19th Century spectacles seem to be too small. However, at that time even substantially big men wore these tiny frames. Generally, total frame width for spectacles made prior to 1870 is between 4 and 4 1/2 inches. From 1870 until 1900 spectacles tended to be slightly wider. The most common widths are 4 5/8, 4 3/4, and 4 7/8. The size 4 7/8 is extremely rare.